Standards › Standard 2C › Plans and templates
Plan / template · ENV-PLN-002 · Version 1.1 · Approved by the ASF Expert Committee
Supports: 2C.2
At a glance
- Write the facility sustainability goals in plain words, one page maximum.
- Share them with all staff at induction and at least once a year.
- Post a plain-language notice for patients and visitors, in the languages the facility uses.
- Offer a simple way for staff and patients to suggest ideas.
- Record each communication.
- Stop and get help straight away if: the goals are only in an internal document, or staff cannot name one goal when asked.
1. Purpose
To make sure staff and patients know the facility sustainability goals in plain words, and can help reach them [E-006, EC].
2. Scope
| Applies to | Chief executive, communications lead, facilities manager, all staff |
| Locations | Staff areas, waiting areas and the facility website at the facility |
| When | Goals reviewed yearly; communicated at induction and at least once a year |
| Does not apply to | Detailed programme actions, which stay in ENV-PLN-001 |
3. Definitions
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Goal | A specific, measurable sustainability aim with a date |
| Plain language | Words a patient or new member of staff understands on first reading |
4. Background
People can help a goal only if they know it. Criterion 2C.2 asks for goals to be communicated, not confined to a policy nobody outside management reads.
5. Responsibilities
| Role | Responsibility | Competence |
|---|---|---|
| Chief executive | Approves the goals and the statement | Executive leadership |
| Communications lead | Writes the plain-language notice; keeps the record | Communication |
| Staff managers | Brief their teams | Induction and briefing |
6. Materials and equipment
| Item | Requirement | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Plain-language goals statement | One page, approved by chief executive | Current |
| Patient and visitor notice (ENV-FRM-007) | Posted in waiting areas | Current, legible |
| Idea box or feedback route | Paper or online | Checked monthly |
7. Safety
- Do not promise results the facility cannot measure.
8. Before you start
- Check the current goals match ENV-PLN-001.
9. Procedure
Step 1. Write the goals.
- Write up to five goals in plain words, each with a target and date.
- Check each goal against the programme and the review.
Key point: Plain words, with a number and a date, are what people remember.
Step 2. Tell staff.
- Brief all staff at induction and at least once a year.
- Ask each briefed group to name one goal. Record the result.
Key point: Asking staff to name a goal is the test that the message landed.
Step 3. Tell patients and visitors.
- Post the notice (ENV-FRM-007) in waiting and entrance areas.
- Make the statement available on request and on the facility website.
Key point: The notice must be understandable without reading the programme.
Step 4. Collect ideas.
- Provide a simple route for staff and patients to suggest ideas.
- Review ideas each quarter and record the decision.
Key point: Two-way communication keeps the goals alive.
Step 5. Record and update.
- Record each communication on ENV-REG-001.
- Update the goals when the review changes them, and tell people again.
Key point: Changed goals that are not communicated are the same as no goals.
10. Decision points
- If staff cannot name a goal in a briefing, the communications lead repeats the briefing within 30 days.
11. Special situations
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| Patient with limited literacy or another language | Offer the notice in the language they use, or a verbal explanation. |
12. Escalation
- Concerns about the accuracy of goals are reported to the chief executive.
13. Monitoring
| Measure | Target | Frequency | Owner | If not met |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staff who can name one goal (sample) | At least 80% (EC) | Yearly | Communications lead | Re-brief |
| Notice posted and current in each entrance and waiting area | 100% | Quarterly | Communications lead | Replace within 14 days |
| Ideas received and answered each quarter | 100% | Quarterly | Communications lead | Escalate |
14. Records
| Record | Kept in | Retention |
|---|---|---|
| ENV-REG-001 Sustainability Communication Record | Communications file | the period set by the facility’s records policy years |
| ENV-FRM-007 Notice (current and superseded) | Communications file | the period set by the facility’s records policy years |
15. Training
- Managers are briefed on how to explain the goals (EC).
16. Related documents
| ID | Title | Use |
|---|---|---|
| ENV-FRM-007 | Staff and Patient Sustainability Notice | Patient notice |
| ENV-REG-001 | Sustainability Communication Record | Communication record |
| ENV-PLN-001 | Environmental Sustainability Programme | Source of goals |
17. Evidence
| Reference | Note |
|---|---|
| E-006 | ASF Policy Framework v1.2. Adapted. |
| E-009 | ASF Expert Committee consensus. Notice wording and target languages to be agreed locally. |
18. Change history
| Version | Date | What changed | Approval |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | the date of approval | First version | Approved by the ASF Expert Committee |
| 1.1 | the date of approval | Internal quality review: corrected cross-references, status wording and document control | Approved by the ASF Expert Committee |
E-learning for this document
References
- Accréditation Sans Frontières (2026). ASF Policy Framework v1.2. (E-006)
- Accréditation Sans Frontières (2026). ASF Expert Committee consensus on Standard 1. (E-009)